King Hong had developed enough trust in Lin Mu now that he knew Lin Mu didn't mean any harm to him or his kingdom. All he wanted was strong and loyal allies that would help him stand against Gu Yao and the Northern Tribes.
He quickly swallowed the Toxin cleaning pill, which turned into a medicinal liquid and waited for its effects. They didn't take long to show either, and a warm sensation spread through his belly.
It started to spread all the way to his extremities and the cold he was feeling earlier was reducing.
"Focus on removing the blockages in your meridians, I'll handle the lightning!" Lin Mu said as he looked up at the lightning arcs streaking across the black clouds.
The blue white color of the lightning looked threatening, like the Axe of an executioner hanging over one's neck. One could tell that the heavens were angry and did not want King Hong to exist anymore.
It was as if his existence was against the rules of the heavens and it wanted to wipe him off the face of the world. Cultivation was doing against the heavens and that was exactly what King Hong was doing and all Nascent soul realm cultivators did.
Right now there was no fear within Lin Mu's heart… rather, there was a strange sense of excitement spreading within his body. He felt like he was made for this and anticipated the lightning.
~RUMBLE~
Unknowingly, a smile appeared on his face as he flew up. The sound of thunder accompanies the arcs of lightning that were forming into a rather large bolt. It was bigger than the previous three and its power could only be imagined.
~BOOM~
The air was torn apart as the lightning fell from the tribulation clouds. Lin Mu didn't falter and met the bolt head on.
~KABOOM~
A blinding flash occurred, forcing the rest to close their eyes. A coupled of seconds later, the flash faded away and they could see again. But when they looked up at the sky, there were far more shocked than before.
"HOW!" This was the only word that was in their mind as they saw Lin Mu standing in the air.
His hands were crossed above his head as a brown layer of armor protected his body. The bolt of tribulation lightning was as if frozen above him. The tribulation attenuation formation had managed to reduce its festiveness by about forty percent, but even then, blocking it was no joke.
"He's… he's actively resisting it!" Hua San said in disbelief.
They watched on as Lin Mu pushed against the force of the lightning bolt.
~crackle~crackle~
The bolt tried to get past Lin Mu but could not. The armor made by the mortal strengthening scripture was strong enough to hold it back.
~Crack~
Still, the power of the bolt was quite strong and the armor started to crack as well. Lin Mu opened his eyes as well and saw the bolt. A stern expression appeared on his face as he conjured more power.
"BEGONE!" Lin Mu yelled as he pushed his hands apart.
~BOOM~
The bolt that was blocked by his hands was deflected to the side before striking a tree in the distance.
~shua~
The tree exploded instantly and was reduced to ash in a second.
~huu~
Lin Mu took a deep breath as he looked at his arms. They were undamaged, but the armor of the mortal straightening scripture was cracked.
"I can do this again," Lin Mu said as he looked fearlessly at the sky.
~RUMBLE~
The tribulation clouds let out a thundering shake, as if they were infuriated. Arcs of lightning streaked across the clouds once again before gathering up into a bolt. This time, the speed was far quicker than before.
~BOOM~
The lightning bolt descend again and Lin Mu clashed against it.
"GAH!" Lin Mu grunted as the impact of the lighting made his body tremble.
He still held on forcefully and didn't falter.
"AAAAAAHHHH!" Lin Mu shouted as he pushed the bolt away.
~KABOOM~
The tribulation bolt struck another tree, but this time spread to the ones around it as well. The small group of trees was quickly reduced to a pile of ashes with cinders glowing within.
~CRACK~
The armor made of Mortal Strengthening scripture cracked further, before the part on his arms dissipated entirely. The parts on his shoulders and torso were cracked the most, following his head and legs.
King Hong was feeling angry right now… he was angry at himself and angry at the world.
'Why is it that my clan has to suffer this!? Why is it that others have to suffer because of my suffering!? Why are he heavens punishing us when all we want to do is to protect the world!?
WHY! JUST WHY!?' King Hong shouted in his heart.
The toxin cleaning pill Lin Mu had fed him was doing its part and had managed to remove half of the blockage in his meridians. But King Hong knew this was not enough.
He gritted his teeth as his anger overflowed. At this moment, he opened his eyes and looked up.
"LEAVE SENIOR LIN MU! YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH! I SHALL BEAR THE REST!" King Hong shouted.
Lin Mu saw the awakened King Hong and furrowed his brows.
"No, it's not enough! You are not ready!" Lin Mu replied.
"TRUST ME! THIS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH! IF I CAN'T EVEN BEAR THIS ON MY OWN WHAT KIND OF A KING WILL I BE?!" King Hong said with determination.
Hearing the voice of his nephew, Adviser Liu was awed.
"Brother… your son has become a true king…" He muttered.
Seeing the determination in King Hong's eyes and voice, Lin Mu wavered.
"Go back, this is enough. Any more and the punishment tribulation will truly descend," Xukong warned.
~Sigh~
"Okay, senior…" Lin Mu replied and blinked back to his previous position.
With Lin Mu gone, King Hong stood up and faced the sky.
"COME! DO YOUR WORST! I'LL TAKE IT ALL!" He taunted, his fury flowing like magma.
